African violet cultivar named Grace

ABSTRACT

A new African violet variety distinguished by its flowers of a distinct light blue color borne in clusters on sturdy main stems to the side and somewhat above dark green and shiny foliage, its vigorous, strong and rapid growth, and the pink under sides of its abundant oval leaves.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

My new African violet plant was discovered by me in 1972 growing as aseedling of unknown parentage in my greenhouse at Hanover, Germany,where I was seeking to develop improved varieties of violets forcommercial exploitation. The attractive light blue color of the blossomsof this plant caused me to propagate it by leaf cuttings for testpurposes; and subsequent reproduction by like means through successivegenerations at Hanover, Germany, and at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A., hasdemonstrated that this plant retains its distinctive characteristicsfrom generation to generation and has favorable advantages for thecommercial market. Propagation for marketing purposes is now being doneby means of vegetative cuttings at West Chicago, Ill., U.S.A.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

My new African violet is illustrated by the accompanying full colorphotographic drawing which shows a potted plant in full bloom, the viewshowing the form and arrangement of the blossoms and the foliage, thecolors shown being as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to obtainby professional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following is a detailed description of my new cultivar of Africanviolet based upon observations of greenhouse grown plants at WestChicago, Ill., the color designations being according to The R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

THE PLANT

Origin: Seedling.

Parentage: Unknown.

Classification: Botanic -- Saintpaulia Ionantha. Commercial -- Africanviolet potted plant.

Form: Compact rosette.

Growth: Rapid, vigorous and strong.

Foliage: Abundant with about 20 leaves.

Size of leaf.--From very small to length of about 7.62 cm. and width ofabout 6.8 cm.

Shape of leaf.--Oval with rounded to an acute apex and with repandmargin.

Texture.--Pubescent.

Aspect.--Glossy.

Color.--Upper side -- 139A. Under side -- 63B.

Ribs and veins.--Pinnate.

Petioles.--Length -- about 1.27 cm. to about 5.71 cm.

THE BUD

Form: Vase shaped.

Size: Variable in diameter and length from flower to flower and plant toplant.

Opening rate: Average for typical African violets.

Color of petals: When sepals first divide -- 155A. When petals begin tounfurl -- 94A.

Sepals: 5 in number and branched.

Shape.--Lanceolate and becoming flat when flowers open.

Color.--Inside -- 199A. Outside -- 199A.

Calyx:

Shape.--Calyx splits to star shape.

Size.--Small.

Aspect.--Hairy.

Peduncle:

Length.--About 4.44 cm. to 6.03 cm.

Strength.--Erect and rigid.

Aspect.--Hairy.

Color.--199A.

THE FLOWER

Blooming habit: Continuous and profuse the year around.

Borne: In clusters as a cyme.

Size of flower: Medium. About 4 cm. in diameter and flat.

Shape: When bloom first opens -- Cup-shaped becoming flat when the bloommatures.

Petalage:

Number of petals.--5, 3 of them larger than the other 2.

Arrangement.--Sympetalous.

Form.--Zygomorphic with rounded apex and repand margin.

Texture.--Glabrous.

Appearance.--Satiny.

Color.--Top side -- 94B. Bottom side -- 94D.

Petaloids.--Number -- 2 to 4. Size: Insignificant and variable andclustered around stamens. Color: 94A to 96C.

Peduncle: Length -- about 4.44 cm. to 6.03 cm.

Color.--199A.

Strength.--Upright and sturdy.

Persistence: Flowers hang on and dry.

Discoloration after full bloom: Color becomes a darker blue as it dries.

Fragrance: None

Lasting quality: 10 to 14 days.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens:

Number.--Four.

Arrangement.--Monadelphous.

Anthers.--about 3.18 mm. in size and yellow in color.

Filaments.--Length -- about 3.18 mm. Color: Violet.

Pollen.--Color -- Yellow.

Pistils: Number -- One.

Style.--About 9.52 mm. in length. Color: Violet.

Stigma.--Color -- White.

Ovaries: Hypogynous and tomentose.

This new African violet cultivar is particularly characterized by itsdark green and shiny foliage which has a distinctive pink under side.The flower form is a typical violet, zygomorphic with a sympetalous androtate corolla with three large and two small petals and two to fourpetaloids clustered around the stamens. The color is a distinct lightblue and the flowers are borne in clusters on sturdy peduncles somewhatabove the dark green foliage. Flowering of this new variety iscontinuous under optimal conditions.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct African violet, substantially as hereinshown and described, characterized by its distinct light blue flowersborne in clusters on sturdy stems to the side and somewhat above darkshiny green foliage which, in turn, is characterized by pink undersides.